Lubricating device for vehicle-axles.



No. 783,055. PATENTED FEB. 2l, 1905.

P. LE SUEUR. LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE AXLES.

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PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP LE SUIIUR, OF CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA.

LUBFHCATING DEVICE FOP! VEHICLE-AXLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,055, dated February21, 1905.

Application iiled October 28, 1903. Serial No. 178,833.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP Ln SUEUR, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Calabasas, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Lubricating Device forVehicle-Axles, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to a new and useful construction of avehicle-axle; and the main object of the invention is to provide meanswhereby the lubricating composition may be supplied to the axle withoutremoving the wheel from the axle' and without removing theretaining-bolt or outside hollow nut or other part, the constructionbeing so designed that while accomplishing the foregoing the wheel maybe as easily removed as when the vehicleaxle is ordinarily constructed.I

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the too rapidescape of oil from the outer oil-chamber to the inner oil-chamber isregulated by the size of the orifice in end of semiblind axle-box.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described whichwill permit of using either thin or thick oils or hard grease, asdesired. l The present invention is of great value for wagons used inteaming in very hot countries, especially on mountain roads. The extremeheat in such places and violent chucking on the hilly roads causes oilto run like Water out of ordinary journal-boxes.

My invention enables hard grease to be employed as readily as oil, andthe grease may be applied in a compact mass of considerable quantity, sothat replenishment of the supply is not required with near the frequencynecessai-y when using oil in hot districts.

Another object is to provide a construction simple in design whichautomatically closes the orifice for the introduction of oil, which isdurable in use, which Will not get out of order, and which may beeconomically manufactured.

. Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the fulldiameter of the axle may be flooded with oil.

Another object is to provide a construction which while possessing theforegoing advantages is very economical in use for the followingreasons: first, that the vehicle can be effectively lubricated in onequarter the time required to lubricate any other improved vehicle on themarket; second, that less oil is required for a given length of time tomaintain the necessary lubrication than is required in axles of theordinary construction, there being provision made for retaining oil in aquantity, so that it is fed to the axle continuously and is preventedfrom oozing away, as is the case of axles of the ordinary construction.

Another object is to provide a construction which effectually preventsdust or grit from entering the axle and injuring' the working parts,likewise preventing dirt from closing up the lubricating-slots.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and, referring tothe same, Figure I is a longitudinal section through the device. Fig. 1Iis a longitudinal section showing the preferred construction. Fig. IIIis a perspective view showing the preferred form of outer end of theaxle-box. Fig. IV is a perspective view showing another form of outerend of the axlebox. Fig. V is a view of the outer face of the retainingdevices, showing them in one position shutting off the outward escape ofoil. Fig. VI is a similar view showing the parts in another positionadapted for the admission of a supply of oil. Fig.' VII is a detail viewof the outer face of the hollow nut. Fig. VIII is a plan View of thebolthead used in the form shown in Fig. II. Fig. IX is a perspective,with j.portions broken away, of the screw-collar used in Fig. I.

1 designates the axle, the outer end of which is drilled and tapped, asshown.

2 is a semiblind axle-box, preferably tapered, as shown, which fitssnugly within the hub 3 and is prevented from turning' therein by meansof radial projections 4.

The outer end of the axle-box 2 is provided with a lip 5, (see Figs. Iand IV,) and `the'end of the axle I terminates short of the endoftheaxle-box 2, thereby forming an oil-reservoir, Into which oil orgrease may be introduced.

7 is a retaimng-bolt which screws Into the end of the axle 1. vided withan elongated smooth shank and is provided with a Aliangc 8. The iiange 8is provided with a series of oilholes 9.

1() is a screw-collar, which is screwed onto the outer end of theaxle-box 2 and is cupped on both faces, forming a central web 11. Theweb 11 is provided with an oil-hole 12, and 13 is a washer, of leatheror other packing material, which is nested within the outer cuppedportion of the nut 1() and lies closely against the web 11. The leatherplate 13 is rendered non-turnable by pins 14, and in addition the wallsof the screw-collar 16 are undercut slightly, as at 15, to receive thewasher 13, which is sprung into place when assembling the parts of thenut, and hence -is easily replaced. The leather plate 13is provided withan oil-hole 16, which exactly registers with the oil-hole 12 in the web11, and when the screw-collar 10 is screwed firmly into position overthe end of the axle-box 2 the oil-box 12 is covered by the lip 5, andwhen the retaining-bolt 7 is screwed to position one oi its series ofoil-holes 9 in its iiange 8 may or may not be in register with theoil-holes 16 and 12. Vhen it is desired to lubricate the axle, thescrew-collar 10 is turned until the oil-hole is at the highest point ofthe hub. The bolt is also turned to bring one of the oil-holes 9 intoregister with the hole 16 in the screw-collar, when .the spout or anoil-can may readily be introduced and the axle Hooded with oil to itsfull diameter. After suiicient oil has been introduced the screw-collar10 is tightened, which causes its oil-hole to be covered by the lip 5,thus preventing the escape of oil, and the bolt 7 is also tightened.

The leather plate 13 closely fits the shank of the retaining-bolt 7, sothat the escape of oil from the bearing is impossible, and the ingressof dirt or grit into the bearing is also prevented, as the lip 5 coversthe oil-hole 12.

A bearing-plate 16 is preferably mounted on the end of the hub to form abearing-surface against the inner edge of the screw-collar 10.

Introduced between the end of the retaining-bolt 7 and the bottom of thehole in the end oi' the axle 1 is a bolt-stop 17, having a concave headwhich iits the convex end of the retaining-bolt 7 and forms a positivemechanical stop to position the bolt 7 when screwed home. A coil-spring18 encircles the shank of bolt-stop 17 and presses against the head ofthe bolt-stop, thus forcing the screw-threads of the retaining-bolttightly into engagement with the threads iin the axle, thus forming anovel bolt-lock and holding the retaining-bolt from turning accidentallyor getting loose from the jar oi' the wagon.

19 is a washer which bears against the inner end of the axle-box 2,being resiliently pressed against the box 2 by a spring-washer 20. Thetwo washers 19 and 2O are mounted Said retaining-bolt is prol in anadjustable shoulder 21.

The washers 19 and 20 and adjustable shoulder 21 are cov-A ered inanother application o't` mine, filed October 28, 1903, Serial No.178,834.

Figs. H and III show the preferred form of construction in which the endof the axle-box 2 has cast thereon a retaining-wall 22, which iscentrally drilled and at one side, preferably its lower side, providedwith an oil passage-way 23. Projecting from the retainingwall 22 is astandard 24, having a shield 25. A hollow nut 26 is screwed onto the endof the axle-box 2 and is provided with an oilhole 27, which when the nut26 is screwed into place is covered by the shield 25, thus positivelyretaining the lubricant in the bearing when the oil-hole is brought toany point by the turning of the'wheel. The nut houses the head oi' thebolt 7. The bolt7 is screwed up, so that the face of the bolt engagesthe end of the axle-box. The position of the oil-hole 27 constantlychanges as the wheel turns, and when the vehicle is stopped for oilingthe oilhole 27 may be at the bottom, or it may be at the top of the hubor at an intermediate position. Obviously the oil-hole 27 should bepreferably at or near its highest point when oil is to be supplied, sothat the hollow nut will retain the oil as it is introduced. Thereforein oiling it' the oil-hole'is not sufficiently near the top the nutshould be turned to bring it to that position, which brings its oil-hole27 away from the shield 25, thereby permitting the spout of an oil-canto be inserted through the oilhole. After suiiicient oil has beenintroduced 'the nut 26 should again be tightened, so that the shield 25closes the oil-hole 27.

A valuable feature of the present invention is that when the vehicle isstanding still oil may positively be prevented from running out byturning each wheel to bring the slot 23 to its highest point. The properpoint to which to turn the wheel may readily be determined by theoil-hole 27, which when the nut 26 is properly screwed home isdiametrically opposite the slot 23 and being exposed is in plain View,so that when the wheel is turned to bring the oil-hole 27 to its lowestpoint the slot 23 will be at its highest point and oil cannot iowthrough the slot and out oi' the inner oil-chamber. Hence Athe oil isretained indefinitely' in the hollow nut. The interior of the nut 26aii'ords additional space v-to retain the lubricant in connection withthe oil-chamber 6, so that in the form shown in Fig. 2 a greaterquantity of oil may be supplied at a given time than can be supplied tothe form shown in Fig. 1. The size of' the slot 23 should beproportioned according to the character of oil used to regulate the iiowof the oil. A large heavy vehicle using thick oil would require arelatively larger slot than would a small light vehicle which used athin oil. For the thick oils the slot should be rela- IOO IOS

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holdingI the axle-box tively large, and for the thin oils it should beSmaller.

The present invention is designed specially for use in the semitropicalandV semi-arid l/Vestern States, where peculiar climate conditionsexist. At midday in these regions the heat is so intense that oil runsot an axle like water, while at night and early morning it is so coldthat grease gets very hard. Hence in using my invention the innerlubricant-chamber in the axle-box is loaded with hard grease in theearly morning. Then the hollow nut is screwed on and suflicient oil isintroduced to bring it above the level of the retaining-bolt, thebolt-hole being designedly large to allow the free passage of oil. Thetraction and chuck of the wheel keeps the hard grease in the innerchamber away from the smooth shank of the bolt, enabling the oil fromthe hollow nut to have free access to the axle, Then when the great heatof the day sets in the melting grease keeps the axle lubricated andlater opens the slot in the end of the blind axle-box, allowingfreeingress of oil from the hollow nut. Another important feature is thatthere are no minutely-small or intricate passages for the lubricant'which would clog with grease or thick oil or thin oil which hadthickened by use, and the invention isA 'therefore of especial value forheavy vehicles using grease or thick oil. The thinness of theretaining-wall in which the slot 23 is located does not affordsuiiicient lodgment for the accumulation of a deposit or permit gummingof the oil in the passage. The oil is fed slowly yet continuously to theaxle, and the too free escape of oil at the extreme inner end of theaxle-box is guarded against.

In order to lock the hollow nut 26 from turning by the jar, theperiphery of its .iiange may have shallow notches 28, either one ofwhich is engaged by a spring-finger 29, mounted in the hub andprojecting therefrom.- The hole in the hub in which the spring-fingerlies is enlarged or tapered near the outer face of the hub to permit ofthe spring-finger 29 freely springing to yieldingly lock the hollow nut26. The outer end of the spring-finger 29 is preferably bent to enablethe Springiinger to be readily grasped by the hand to release the hollownut when the latter is to be turned into or out of place.

The solid retaining-bolt 7 obviously performs the double function ofclosing the central aperture in the retaining-wall 22 and of andattached parts in place on the axle. Thus when the retainingbolt isremoved the hole gives ample space for the introduction of hard grease.The central aperture is designedly larger than the retaining-bolt toallow of the free ingress of oil from the auxiliary lubricatingdevice-t'. e., the hollow nut-and being provided with means for theintroduction of the heaviest oil far above the level of theretaining-bolt the escape of lubricant can be effected only by itstraversing the axle-box, hence lubricating the ax e.

While I have sho'wn and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it should be understood that various changes andmodific-ations may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe claims.

What- I claim isl. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, the endwall of the axle-box having a central hole for the introduction oflubricant, said axle terminating short of the end of the axle-box,thereby chamber at the end of bolt detachably engaging the end of theaxle, the shank of the bolt traversing the lubricantchamber and passingthrough the hole in the end of the axle-box, the head of the bolt beingoutside the axle-box, the bolt being removable to open the hole andallow hard grease to be put into the chamber, the bolt when in placepreventing egress of the lubricant and also holding the axle-box on theaxle.

2. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, the end wall of theaxle-box having a centralhole for the introduction of lubricant, saidaxle terminating short of the end of the axle-box` thereby forming alubricantchamber at the end of the axle, and a solid bolt detachablyengaging' the end of the axle, the shank of the bolt traversing thelubricantchamber and passing through the hole in the end of theaxle-box, the head of the bolt being outside the axle-box, the boltbeing removable to open the hole and allow hard grease to be put intothe chamber, the bolt when in place preventing egress of the lubricantand also holding the axle-box on the axle,- the end wall`of the axle-boxalso having another smaller orifice for the passage of thinnerlubricants, and means external of the axle-box and detachably fastenedthereto for holding a supply1 of lubricant which may automatically feedinto the inner chamber through the small orice.

3. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, a hub on the axle-box,the outer end of the axle-box havinga retaining-wall, there being aspace between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle forming a lubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having' a passage for lubricant,and a retaining-bolt passi ng through the retaining-wall into the axle,a hollow nut screwed to the axle-box, said hollow nut having anoil-hole.

4. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, a hub on the axle-box,the outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being aspace between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle formingalubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lubricant,and a retaining-bolt passing through forming a lubricantthe axle, and asolid IOO IIO

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the retaining-wall into theaxle, a hollow nut screwed to the axle-box,said hollow nut having an oil-hole, and means for closing said oilhole.

` In combination, an. axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub on the axle-box,the outer end ofy the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being aspace between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming alubricant-ch amber, said retaining-wall having a passage forlubricant,and a retaining-bolt passing through the retaining-wall intothe axle, a hollow nut screwed to the axle-box, said hollow nut havingan oil-hole, a standard projecting from the axle-box, there being ashield on the standard for covering the oil-hole in the hollow nut.

6. 'In combination, an axle, an axle box thereon, a hub on the axle-box,the outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being aspace between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming alubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lubricant,and a retaining-bolt passing through the retaining-wall into theaxle, and means for yieldingly locking said hollow nut.

7. 1n combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub on the axle-box,thel outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being' aspace between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, formingalubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lubricant,and a retaining-bolt passing through the retaining-wall into the axle,said retaining-bolt havinga smooth shank traversing thelubricant-chamber.

8. In combination, an axle, an axle box thereon, a hub on the axle-box,the outer end of the axle-box having aretaining-wall, there being aspace between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming alubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a pa'ssage for alubricant, a hollow nut screwed to the axlebox, said hollow nut having'an oil-hole, and a bearing-plate interposed between the hollow nut andthe face of the hub.

9. In combination, an axle, a semiblind axlebox thereon forming anoil-chamber between the end of the axle and the end of the semiblindaxle-box, a hollow nut screwed to the end of the semiblind axle-box, theend of the semiblind axle-box'having passages for lubricant, and thehollow nut having an oil-hole.

10. 1n combination, an axle, a semiblind axle-box thereon forming anoil-chamber between the end of the axle and the end of the semiblindaxle-box, a hollow nut screwed to the end of the semiblind axle-box, theend of the semiblind axle-box having passages for lubricant, and thehollow nut havingan oilhole, said oil-hole being near the periphery ofsaid hollow nut.

11. ln combination, an axle, a semiblind Iaxle-box thereon forming anoil-chamber between the end of the axle and the end of the semiblindaxle-box, a hollow nut screwed on the end of the semiblind axle-box, theend of the semiblind axle-box having' passages for` lubricant, thehollow nut having' an oil-hole, a solid retaining-bolt passing throughthe end of the semiblind axle-box with its shank traversing thelubricant chamber, the shank of the bolt being smooth.

1Q. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, the outer end of theaxle-box having a retaining-wall, there being' a space between the axleend and retaining-wall, said retaining-wall having passages forlubricant, a hollow nut having' an oil-hole screwedto said axlebox anddesignedly supplied with means for a circular motion from its innersurface for the purpose set forth.

13. In combination, an axle, a semiblind axle-box thereon, there being alubricantchamber between the axle end and extreme end of the semiblindaxle-box, the semiblind axle-box having in its end passages forlubricant, a hollow nut screwed to said axle-box and having an oil-holenear its periphery, said hollow nut being designedly supplied with meansfor a circular movement substantially as set forth and 'for the purposespecilied. 14. In combination, an axle, the outer end of which isrecessed axially and internally screwthreaded, an axle-box on the axle,the outer end of which is partly closed, a hub on the box provided witha `bearing-plate, a bolt through the plate and the end of the box andinto the recess in the end of the axle, and means in the bore to lochvthe bolt against aecidental removal.

1n testimony whereof l have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing' witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngelesand Stateof California, this 21st day of October, 1903.

PHI L11 1) LE SUEUR. ldfitnesses:

Gnoonn T. HAexLnY, JULIA TowNsuND.

